PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to compare the characteristics of
tumor and
prognosis , depending on the status of
resection margin involvement, on the
frozen section diagnosis in
gastric cancer . MATERIALS AND
METHODS: This study was conducted retrospectively, in 83 margin-positive
patients on the
frozen section diagnosis ,
who underwent
gastrectomy from July 1995 to September 2006. The
control group was selected by matching the age,
gender , TNM stage and status of
adjuvant chemoradiotherapy , among those
who had shown clear
resection margins . The characteristics of
tumor and
patient survival are investigated, and they were analyzed between the two groups.
RESULTS: The
tumor size was significantly larger in the study group than that of the
control group (P=0.037). There was significant difference between the two groups in
location of the
tumors (P=0.003).
Multivariate analysis indicated that only the
location and Lauren's
classification are independent factors, which affected the
resection margin involvement. Median
survival was 41.0+/-11.5 months in the study group and 93.0+/-30.3 months in the
control group (P=0.049). In the
survival analysis , it was investigated that TNM stage and the
resection margin involvement of the
frozen section diagnosis were the critical variables.
CONCLUSIONS: When the
tumor is located at the middle or the upper third, or the Lauren's indeterminate type, they are highly likely to show the
resection margin involvement on the
frozen section diagnosis , and it can, therefore, have negative effects on the
prognosis . It is considered as good to perform more extensive resection as possible, during the initial resection.